Mangrove Forests

Salt-tolerant forests whose roots shelter fish nurseries and hold the coastline together.

Mangroves grow where saltwater and freshwater mix, with complex root systems that rise above the water. They act as natural barriers against storms and coastal erosion, provide breeding grounds for fish and crustaceans, and shelter unique birds and reptiles. In Tanzania the mangroves of the Rufiji Delta and other coastal areas are vital to biodiversity and to local fisheries.